Team Venzuela aims to change Classic fortunes for fans back home

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- There probably isn’t a team in the World Baseball Classic with more to prove than Venezuela, which has never played in a championship game and lost to the United States in the quarterfinals three years ago after going 4-0 in pool play.

While the U.S., Japan and the Dominican Republic have won WBC titles and Puerto Rico and Cuba have played in the championship game, Venezuela is looking to break through this year with a stacked roster led by Ronald Acuña Jr., the 2023 National League Most Valuable Player with Atlanta.

“It’s been a great motivation for us,” said Venezuelan manager Omar López, who’s the Astros’ bench coach. “They love to wear a Venezuelan uniform and they take pride in our country. They believe in each other that we can get in the final and win the whole thing, and that's the most important thing -- believe it. If you really believe it, you’re not going to have any problem.”

López said he cried when he saw the Venezuelan flag flapping in the wind above CACTI Park of the Palm Beaches before Tuesday’s exhibition against the Astros. The Venezuela team will be competing against the backdrop of political turmoil back home.

“I think everybody in Venezuela is waiting for this moment -- kids, grandparents, everybody is expecting us to step up on the field,” López said. “We’ll try the best we can to win the whole thing and make our Venezuela have a party, have a celebration. The message is very simple: We’re prepared, we’re ready, we have the talent and I believe in these guys. We’re going to do our best to give Venezuela the title.”

Said infielder Luis Arraez: “I’m doing this for my country, the country that gave me some opportunities, that loves me. They truly love me. We carry my country’s name, Venezuela. It’s something to think about for me.”

Venezuela appeared to be in position to advance deep into the tournament in 2023 after posting wins over the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Israel and Nicaragua in group play. Not only did Venezuela lose Jose Altuve to a broken thumb in the fifth inning of its quarterfinal matchup with the U.S, but a four-run eighth inning gave the Americans a comeback 9-7 win.

“The most important thing for any team, especially a Venezuelan team in the WBC, is determination,” López said. “We have some talent, we have some names, but you still have to organize that talent, you still have to organize everything. You still have to control your emotions in that environment in those games in order to execute.”

Despite Altuve being unable to play in the WBC due to insurance reasons and pitcher Pablo López headed for his second Tommy John surgery, the roster is still deep and talented.

Acuña, the only player in MLB history with a 40-70 campaign is the leader of a roster that features other stars such as Jackson Chourio, Maikel García, Eugenio Suárez, Arráez, Gleyber Torres, Willson and William Contreras, Ranger Suarez, Eduardo Rodríguez and the captain, Salvador Perez.

“It’s solid, but what I value more is the mentality than the talent,” López said. “The talent is good, but if the mentality is not prepared and not ready and you’re trying to do too much, you’re not going to be able to execute. I value that in this team. Talent is there, but the mentality has to be here, too.”

Venezuela is in Pool D in Miami and will meet the Netherlands at noon ET on Friday, followed by a game against Israel at 7 p.m. ET on Saturday. They’ll play Dusty Baker’s Nicaragua club at 7 p.m. ET on Monday and wrap up pool play with a showdown against the Dominican Republic on Wednesday at 8 p.m. ET.

“We were in the semifinals a long time ago,” López said. “It’s time to do it, time to make history happen.”